We tested 6 different ways to reheat standard store-bought corn and flour tortillas, to find the best method to get soft, pliable and strong tortillas for your tacos! No more frustrating mess with your corn tortilla falling apart before you even get to take a bite. From steaming, oven, pan and over an open flame, we got you covered with this Texas test kitchen experiment.

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There are countless ways to reheat tortillas, so I'm sure we missed some, but these are the top methods used by Very Veganish readers, when I surveyed them.
All of these methods are without added oil/fat, because honestly anything smothered in fat is going to be rich and soft, but also greasy. We're using either steam or dry heat to reheat the tortillas in each of these methods.
Ideally, what we're looking for in a warmed tortilla is:
- soft - tender to the bite
- pliable - can be bent without cracking
- strong - won't break apart when filled

Corn tortillas
A big frustration for corn tortillas is that they fall apart easily. So, one of the tests we did for the corn tortillas was to fill them with a wet filling of charro beans and sour cream and see if they broke when lifted.
#1 - WINNER - Heat corn tortillas over gas stove fire
This method yielded the strongest corn tortillas in our test. They also have a slight smoky char to them, which we enjoy.
Downside is that you need a gas stove for this method. I wrote detailed instructions in a separate post on how to heat corn tortillas over a gas stove open flame.

#2 - RUNNER-UP - Heat non-stick skillet, add tablespoon of water and steam corn tortilla until all water has evaporated. Flip tortilla.
Downside: May stick to the pan. I had to try this a few times before it worked for me without sticking horribly. But, if you can do it, these tortillas are tender, pliable and strong - the trifecta for corn tortillas!

#3 - Heat in microwave inside damp paper towel for 30 seconds, flipping halfway through.
This method is listed at #3 because it does yield soft and tender tortillas that are pliable. But, if they are left too long after steaming, they will fall apart. So, it's a good option if you're reheating just a few tortillas that you plan to eat right then.
This is not the method to use for a large amount that will sit on the table for awhile before you eat dinner.

#4 - Heat in dry non-stick skillet
These fell apart. I'm guessing because they were just heated a little bit, not long enough to strengthen the tortilla.
I will say that after this test, we used this method to heat corn tortillas in a dry cast iron skillet just until they developed small golden-brown spots, then immediately put inside a container to steam and keep warm. That method works well!

#5 - Heat in oven in tin foil lined with parchment paper
These fell apart, also. Not recommended.

Flour tortillas
Okay, on to flour tortillas. We're talking standard store-bought tortillas here. Not fresh, homemade or raw flour tortillas that are cooked at home.
#1 - WINNER - Heat stack of flour tortillas in oven, wrapped in parchment paper-lined tin foil, at 300ยบF for 10 minutes. Stays warm for 30 minutes!
Excellent if you're reheating flour tortillas for a crowd! If you're heating more than 15 tortillas, make several tin foil packages, rather than stacking them all in one. They will heat more evenly.

#2 - Heat over open fire on gas stove on low heat.
This method dries out the tortilla. Be careful the fire is not too high as it will make the tortilla hard.

#3 - Heat in microwave wrapped in damp paper towel for 30 seconds, flipping halfway through.
This method worked, but resulted in slightly gummy tortillas. But, good in a pinch.

Takeaways
Ultimately, the best way to reheat tortillas is to incorporate both moisture and heat. Either use a dry heat first, then steam them inside a container. Or, use steam directly while heating (like via a damp paper towel).
The best results, especially for finicky corn tortillas, incorporated dry heat to strengthen the surface and then steam for a tender bite.
Taco Tuesday will be even better going forward with this vital knowledge!!! I hope you have a delicious week!





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